Spot the Differential

Pogba’s new role makes him a useful FPL differential for Triple Gameweek

Triple Gameweek 35 is almost upon us which gives us an opportunity to have a look at some more differential options.

This time, we’ve selected low-owned picks at West Ham United, Aston Villa and Manchester United who we think have the potential to make an impact.

As always, to qualify, the player must have an ownership of 5% or below at the time of writing.

Paul Pogba

  • FPL ownership: 2.2%
  • Price: £7.6m
  • GW35-38 fixtures: avl + LEI + LIV | – | FUL | wol

Paul Pogba (£7.6m) has been one of Manchester United’s top performers in recent weeks, producing some of his best football since returning to Old Trafford from Juventus in 2016.

The French midfielder struggled with several minor injuries and a bout of COVID-19 earlier in the season. However, since regaining full fitness, he has become a vital asset to Ole Gunnar Solskjær, which has coincided with a new, hybrid role on the left of United’s 4-2-3-1 formation.

The more advanced position means he is generally further up the pitch when United reach the final third, where he has the vision and ability to quickly switch play. And that’s led to a big improvement from Pogba, who has scored two goals and registered four assists in his last ten matches across all competitions. He also ranks joint-second amongst team-mates for shots in the box, and third for chances created over the last six Gameweeks.

The Red Devils are now unbeaten in 13 Premier League matches, and after the latest fixture amendments were announced earlier this week, now visit Aston Villa before back-to-back home matches against Leicester City and Liverpool in Triple Gameweek 35.

While it’s hard to pinpoint exactly which, if any, of United’s assets will be handed three starts, Pogba’s versatility enhances his chances, and now in a really good moment, could be an effective differential for the remainder of the season.

Michail Antonio

  • FPL ownership: 5.0%
  • Price: £6.4m
  • GW35-38 fixtures: EVE | bha | wba | SOU

Gameweek 34 saw the return of Michail Antonio (£6.4m) to West Ham United’s attack.

The 31-year-old was back in the starting XI after recovering from the hamstring injury which forced him off against Wolverhampton Wanderers last month, and it didn’t take him long to impress.

His quickfire double, finishing off crosses from Vladimir Coufal (£4.7m) and Saïd Benrahma (£5.9m), turned the game in the Hammers favour, and he was perhaps unfortunate not to return more, as he ended the game with six goal attempts, two big chances and 12 penalty box touches. 

In fact, Antonio’s expected goal involvement (xGI) total of 1.43 was not bettered by any other Fantasy Premier League (FPL) player in Gameweek 34, and as pointed out by Neale in his Scout Notes, it is merely a continuation of a season-wide trend as no forward with substantial game-time to their name has a better rate of xGI per 90 minutes.

Manuel Lanzini’s (£6.4m) performance also caught the eye, with the Argentine excelling in a deeper role in Declan Rice’s (£4.7m) absence, and as a result of their win, West Ham now sit fifth, just three points behind Chelsea with four games to play. 

With a crucial run of games coming up against Everton, Brighton and Hove Albion, West Bromwich Albion and Southampton, Antonio can finish the season strongly, and could be one of the very best FPL differentials for the run-in.

Anwar El Ghazi

  • FPL ownership: 1.2%
  • Price: £5.2m
  • GW35-38 fixtures: MUN + EVE | cry | tot | CHE

Anwar El Ghazi (£5.2m) has not always been a guaranteed starter at Aston Villa this season, but has now scored in back-to-back matches and made a real impact.

The Dutchman’s Gameweek 34 strike at Everton took his tally to eight in the Premier League, making him the Villans’ top scorer behind Ollie Watkins (£6.5m), and there is no doubt that at his best, he has the ability to be a real game-changer.

Interestingly, captain Jack Grealish (£7.5m) recently labelled El Ghazi as Villa’s best finisher at the club, and it was easy to see why at Goodison Park, as he bent the winner past an excellent Jordan Pickford (£4.8m) late on. He also hit the woodwork and enjoyed plenty of success running at Carlo Ancelotti’s backline, which is encouraging.

The winger’s shoot-on-sight policy is evident in the numbers, too. Amongst all midfielders per 90 who have played a reasonable number of minutes, he ranks second for goal attempts, fifth for big chances and third for expected goals (xG), only behind Mohamed Salah (£12.7m) and Gareth Bale (£9.1m).

At this stage, we should point out that longer term, this move carries more risk, as it’s likely we’ll see El Ghazi drop out of the starting XI upon Grealish’s return. However, if the England international continues to be ruled out, and you fancy a short-term differential punt, this could be a good one.

2,781 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Gizzachance
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    b boost: forster vydra holding holgate?
    give a potential 11 dgw players, and save trans to sort out blank players next week
    cheers

  2. SoShy
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    No United player will start all 3 games even more unlikely for a CB (unless due to an injury) to be subbed on midway through a game

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Ole literally said its impossible for anyone to play all the games yet people are still talking about who gets more points in 270 minutes! Now don't get me wrong maybe one or two will squeak 3 starts but we can't expect it at all

      • Duke Silver ☑
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        I could see AWB starting all 3. Not much coverage at RB.

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Williams, he ain't great but top 4 is sorted but you're right awb stands the best chance imo, shaw is historically injury prone and telles is a handy back up, usually

      • gawa11
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Thoughts on this for a hit?
        Son & Kane out
        Salah & DCL in

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Yeah nice.

        2. Cojones of Destiny
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          would try and keep one of them

      • wonkeydonkey
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        A) Son + Kane -> Watkins + Bruno (-8pts, will have 7 players in GW36)
        B) Son -> Greenwood (-4pts, will have 7 players in GW36)
        C) Son -> Zaha (-4pts, will have 8 players in GW36)

        1. Heiro
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          I can't get rid of Son Kane when they have Leeds and wolves next.

          1. wonkeydonkey
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Reckon Son to Greenwood/ Zaha is worth it? (Need to do this to do planned move of Vydra to DCL)

            1. Heiro
              • 14 Years
              2 years, 10 months ago

              Not for me. Whats the rest of your team?

              Gotta be someone else you can move to Zaha/Greenwood.

              1. wonkeydonkey
                • 5 Years
                2 years, 10 months ago

                Mendy, Forster
                TAA, Shaw, Digne, Castagne, Holding
                Salah, Jota, Lingard, Maddison, Son
                Kane, Vydra, Nacho

                Only have £0.5itb, and 1FT. Playing BB so wanted to upgrade Vydra and get in DCL. Would therefore need to downgrade Son to £7.3m unless you have any better suggestions?

                Concerned about squad for GW36, but will need to take a -8pt hit then anyways.

                1. Heiro
                  • 14 Years
                  2 years, 10 months ago

                  Wow, same midfield a me.

                  I am actually thinking Jota to Greenwood/Zaha.

                  Not convinced Jota is palying both and the second game is against United...

                  1. Zladan
                    • 6 Years
                    2 years, 10 months ago

                    Liverpool HAVE to win for any chance of CL.

                  2. wonkeydonkey
                    • 5 Years
                    2 years, 10 months ago

                    Don't want to remove Jota as think he's still a decent option off the bench at his price, plus Liv need to go for it/ Man U could be tired. Thinking of downgrading Son to fund the Vydra to DCL move, but can't work out whether I need to do anything this week or not!

                    1. Heiro
                      • 14 Years
                      2 years, 10 months ago

                      Do it. But possibly make sure you can get Son/Bae in for the following week.

                      1. wonkeydonkey
                        • 5 Years
                        2 years, 10 months ago

                        Would have the exact money to do:

                        Maddison, Castagne, Mendy -> Bale, £4.4m DEF (Ayling, Lowton), Meslier

                        Which should give me 11 starters in GW36 for a -8pt hit, if I go with Zaha this week.

        2. Manani
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          neither, especially since you dont have enough GW36 player to begin with

          1. wonkeydonkey
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Using BB this week so want DCL and another DGW/TGW player for Vydra and Son. Think the extra 2/3 fixtures would be worth basically a -8pt hit, especially given the better GW36 fixture for DCL.

      • Aster
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Lingard to Zaha?

        1. yanky
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          free yes, hit no

      • Fernando Torres
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Will Mitchell start both?

        1. wowo
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          If he starts one, it would be lucky. I reckon

        2. Free Hat
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Reading twitter comments i dont think so

      • Hazardous1983
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        lingard to zaha for -8? and bench kane?

        1. Aster
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Thinking exactly the same

        2. yanky
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          hell no keep ling and start kane

        3. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          My god no.

          1. Torres76
            • 14 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Crazy move!!

        4. wowo
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          not a -8 especially you have Kane to play
          Lingard has lots to contribute when Whu keeps creating chances

        5. Zladan
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          I’ve seen some crazy moves b this might top it!

          Zaha!? I’d start Kane over Zaha all day.

      • Zlatan F.C
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Rate my team out of 10 please. Bench Boost played

        Mendy Forster
        TAA Maguire Rudiger Coufal Godfrey
        Salah Bruno (c) Greenwood Jota Lingard
        Kane Vydra Nacho

      • iCon
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Why are people dumping Rudiger? Is he unlikely to play or just the tough fixtures?

        1. wowo
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Maynot play both 2 due to rotation and no GW36 plus many other double weeks players

        2. Pompel
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Will play against City, but unlikely to play next against Arsenal

      • Forza Papac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Which would you rather have this week?

        A) Havertz -4
        B) Bale

        1. iCon
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          B for sure

      • JoJoRed
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Chasing
        Greenwood an option for a captaincy punt?

        1. DycheDycheBaby
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Same. Or Salah/Nacho

      • Bubz
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Lingard ---> Zaha (-4)...

        Worth it in your opinion?

        1. Botman and Robben
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          -4 is tricky...could work out.

        2. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          For free it’s a pretty big punt.

        3. Biggsy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Not looking beyond 35 for me. West Ham have some good fixtures and will be chasing that top 4 spot until the end

        4. pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Don't think so.

          Lingard looks good for the run in and Zaha is not in prime form at all - minor contributions since his return from injury. One goal and assist form the 5 Palace have scored,

        5. Winston.
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          No. If Zaha were fully fit, might consider as FT. But neverthless might work, if he plays 180.

      • Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Play Rudiger or Phillips?

        Martinez
        Castagne Shaw Phillips
        Bruno Jota Salah Greenwood
        Watkins Nacho Kane

        Sanchez Rudiger Lingard Coady

      • Karan14
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Ole admits Maguire is unlikely to play in all three upcoming fixtures: “Harry, he’s played every minute for us in the PL since he came. I don’t think that’s possible now. That’s another stat that he could have been very, very proud of but I can’t really see that happening.” #MUFC

        1. Zlatan F.C
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Now i might just go Digne instead

        2. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Cheers. Tried to post that myself but failed hard.

      • Cojones of Destiny
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        play
        a. Veltman
        b. Konsa

      • G Banger
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Quick couple of questions please:

        Play one DEF (have Mendy):
        1) Fofana
        2) Rudiger

        Play one MID:
        a) Martinelli (WBA/CHE)
        b) Lingard (EVE)

      • I Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        I don't think I have the balls to not captain Bruno.

        1. JONALDINHO
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          I might be going without him completely!

        2. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Member how Pogba playing affects his scoring?

      • AD2110
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Stuck on what to do....anything you’d do to this team? 1FT and 0.4 ITB

        Martinez
        TAA, Dallas, Shaw
        Salah, Jota, Bruno Lingard, Son
        Kane, Nacho

        Forster, Veltman, Struijk, Davis

      • yanky
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        somebody slap me, i have NO united players and dont think any are worth -4 since it would be an extra hit in gw36. I have Saka Holding Mendy Rudiger Nacho all who already arent playing

        1. wonkeydonkey
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          I'm in a similar situation with lots of GW36 blankers:

          Mendy, Forster
          TAA, Shaw, Digne, Castagne, Holding
          Salah, Jota, Lingard, Maddison, Son
          Kane, Vydra, Nacho

          Thinking I may just have to bite the bullet then, as I fancy DCL & Zaha for Vydra & Son (playing BB this week)

        2. ChippyT
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          I have no Utd either, can't bring myself to ship Kane or Son!

          Martinez
          Konsa|Rudi|TAA
          Salah|Jota|Lings|Son
          Kane|Nacho|Watkins

          Fabri|Dunk|Raph|Dallas

        3. Heiro
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          I am coming to the same conclusion. It could really ruin me next week. And putting players in who just played Roma and need to be fit/ready for final and missing next week!

      • wowo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Which one is better? Cheers
        (1) Zaha + AWB + Castagne or
        (2) Greenwood + Digne + J. Evans

      • FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        These Friday deadlines are so excruciating. I mean it is so difficult to tinker after the press conferences. hope we have fewer Friday deadlines next year

      • Atimis
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Thoughts on: Son Davis to Zaha Watkins?

        Mendy/Forster
        TAA/Castagne/Shaw/Rudiger/Holding
        Salah/Bruno/Son/Siggy/Lingard
        Kane/Nacho/Davis

      • PaulParker
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Fernandes captain right?

        1. Babelcopter
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Salah

      • Duke Silver ☑
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Any chance these Friday games will be scrapped next season? I hate this Friday deadline.

      • sirmorbach
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Should I start Holding (WBA, che) our Rudiger (mci, ARS)?

      • shirtless
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        McCarthy & Struijk > Guiata & Vestergaard a sensible use of a -4 to fill my BB..? I’d like Maguire but I’d have to get Forster which seems a bit silly. I’m not sure I trust either Saints keeper to start!

        McCarthy JWP Keane Struijk

      • PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        OGS on Maguire:

        “Harry, he’s played every minute for us in the PL since he came. I don’t think that’s possible now. That’s another stat that he could have been very, very proud of but I can’t really see that happening.”

        Damn. Kinda expected it but still.

        https://twitter.com/BenDinnery/status/1390646733210796033

        1. dwain100
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Ole is threatening to put a weakened side in one of the fixtures. Posted earlier

      • dwain100
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Afternoon. Which of the two choices :
        A) Vardy or
        B) Watkins

        1) Auba or
        2) Zaha

      • NATSTER
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Who to score more points?

        A: DCL
        B: Watkins + 4 points

        1. Pompel
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Beat me to it (see below)
          Has to be looked at over GW35+36, so I'd say it's pretty close

          1. NATSTER
            • 13 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            FH on 36 and I think this spot will be taken by Antonio on GW37.

            So, in my case, it's more about DGW35 decision.

            1. Pompel
              • 10 Years
              2 years, 10 months ago

              Watkins then

      • Pompel
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Reall fancy DCL for GWs 35+36, but would mean one hit extra over Watkins:

        A) Bamford -> Watkins -4pts
        B) Bamford + Rudiger -> DCL + Phillips -8pts
        C) keep Bumford

        Which one?

        1. NATSTER
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Haha.. And I'm also considering to sell Bamford too.

          It's Bamford + Lingard -> DCL + JWP in my case.

          1. Pompel
            • 10 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Would be 0.2 off DCL + JWP., so would be El Ghazi instead , or possible downgrade of defender